US4040512A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of and means for indexing articles
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-01-12
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Granted: 1977-08-09
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Expires: 1996-01-12
Abstract
Abstract A conveyor system wherein randomly spaced articles are advanced on a conveyor at a predetermined rate of speed, and means made effective by the presence of an article in a predetermined position on said conveyor, to lift the article therefrom and advance it a predetermined distance at a greater speed than that of the conveyor so as to locate each article in uniform spaced relation to an article in advance thereof and reposition it on the conveyor.
Inventors
- 👤 Warren C. Ness
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 16:59
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G47/00; B65G47/22; B65G47/26; B65G47/28; B65G47/30; B65G47/31; B65G47/74; B65G47/88; B65G47/8807; B65G47/8869
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
157 words
An apparatus for sequentially indexing a first article having at least a predetermined minimum overall spacing behind a second article on a conveyor wherein said overall spacing includes the spacing between said first and said second article and the length of said first article, said apparatus comprising: a. sensing means for determining the position of said first article on said conveyor; and b. positioning means responsive to said sensing means for: 1. lifting said first article from said conveyor if said sensing means indicates that said first article is mispositioned; 2. moving said first article if thusly lifted at a speed greater than the speed of said conveyor; and 3. placing said first article on a surface at a position where it will lie a positive integral number of unit lengths behind said second article, said unit length being longer than the lengths of said first and second articles and no longer than said minimum overall spacing.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
157 words
An apparatus for sequentially indexing a first article having at least a predetermined minimum overall spacing behind a second article on a conveyor wherein said overall spacing includes the spacing between said first and said second article and the length of said first article, said apparatus comprising: a. sensing means for determining the position of said first article on said conveyor; and b. positioning means responsive to said sensing means for: 1. lifting said first article from said conveyor if said sensing means indicates that said first article is mispositioned; 2. moving said first article if thusly lifted at a speed greater than the speed of said conveyor; and 3. placing said first article on a surface at a position where it will lie a positive integral number of unit lengths behind said second article, said unit length being longer than the lengths of said first and second articles and no longer than said minimum overall spacing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said surface is a moving surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said positioning means includes a platform making contact with the bottom of said first article and lifting said first article from said conveyor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 3 including a plurality of spaced-apart platforms each similar to said platform, each of said platforms having a length in the direction in which said positioning means moves said first article about equal to said unit length.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said platforms move in said direction with a uniform speed and the space x between adjacent platforms is given by the expression: ##EQU1## wherein: s 1 is said uniform speed s 2 is the speed of said conveyor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein, when one of said series of platforms lifts said first article, said one platform extends beyond the horizontal perimeter of said first article at substantially all points of said perimeter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 2 further including timing means for delivering said second article on said moving surface to a predetermined location at one of a plurality of preselected relative times.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 2 further including second sensing means for determining the position of said first article while lifted by said positioning means from said conveyor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said positioning means treats all articles on said conveyor following said first article independently of the position of said first article.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said positioning means touches said first and second articles only on their horizontal surfaces.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
132 words
An apparatus for sequentially indexing a first article behind a second article on a conveyor comprising: a. sensing means for determining the position of said first article on said conveyor; and b. positioning means responsive to said sensing means for: 1. lifting said first article from said conveyor if said sensing means indicates that said first article is mispositioned; 2. moving said first article if thusly lifted at a speed different than the speed of said conveyor; and 3. placing said first article on a surface at a position where it will lie a positive integral number of unit lengths behind said second article, said unit length being longer than the lengths of said first and second articles, said positioning means touching said first and second articles only on their horizontal surfaces.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
132 words
An apparatus for sequentially indexing a first article behind a second article on a conveyor comprising: a. sensing means for determining the position of said first article on said conveyor; and b. positioning means responsive to said sensing means for: 1. lifting said first article from said conveyor if said sensing means indicates that said first article is mispositioned; 2. moving said first article if thusly lifted at a speed different than the speed of said conveyor; and 3. placing said first article on a surface at a position where it will lie a positive integral number of unit lengths behind said second article, said unit length being longer than the lengths of said first and second articles, said positioning means touching said first and second articles only on their horizontal surfaces.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
127 words
A method for sequentially indexing a first article having at least a predetermined minimum overall spacing behind a second article on a conveyor comprising: a. determining the position of said first article on said conveyor; b. lifting said first article from said conveyor if said first article is determined to be mispositioned without contacting the edges of said first article; c. moving said first article if thusly lifted at a speed greater than the speed of said conveyor; and d. placing said first article on a surface at a position where it will lie a positive integral number of unit lengths behind said second article, said unit length being longer than the lengths of said first and second articles and no longer than said minimum overall spacing.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
127 words
A method for sequentially indexing a first article having at least a predetermined minimum overall spacing behind a second article on a conveyor comprising: a. determining the position of said first article on said conveyor; b. lifting said first article from said conveyor if said first article is determined to be mispositioned without contacting the edges of said first article; c. moving said first article if thusly lifted at a speed greater than the speed of said conveyor; and d. placing said first article on a surface at a position where it will lie a positive integral number of unit lengths behind said second article, said unit length being longer than the lengths of said first and second articles and no longer than said minimum overall spacing.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
127 words
A method for sequentially indexing a first article behind a second article on a conveyor comprising: a. determining the position of said first article on said conveyor; b. lifting said first article from said conveyor if said first article is determined to be mispositioned, without contacting any edge of either said first or second article; c. moving said first article if thusly lifted at a speed different than the speed of said conveyor; and d. placing, without contacting any edge of either said first or said second article, said first article on a surface at a position where it will lie a positive integral number of unit lengths behind said second article, said unit length being longer than the lengths of said first and said second article.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
127 words
A method for sequentially indexing a first article behind a second article on a conveyor comprising: a. determining the position of said first article on said conveyor; b. lifting said first article from said conveyor if said first article is determined to be mispositioned, without contacting any edge of either said first or second article; c. moving said first article if thusly lifted at a speed different than the speed of said conveyor; and d. placing, without contacting any edge of either said first or said second article, said first article on a surface at a position where it will lie a positive integral number of unit lengths behind said second article, said unit length being longer than the lengths of said first and said second article.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-08-08 | 1981-02-07 | 1981-08-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-08-08 | 1985-02-07 | 1985-08-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-08-08 | 1989-02-07 | 1989-08-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |